Jammu, April 20: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has been awarded a prestigious research grant under the Advanced National Research Foundation – Partnerships for Advancing Interdisciplinary Research (ANRF-PAIR) initiative. This landmark achievement underscores SMVDU’s growing role in India’s cutting-edge research ecosystem.
The funded project, focusing on advanced materials, will be carried out in collaboration with IIT Ropar, which serves as the hub institute. SMVDU, as a spoke partner, will receive approximately Rs 10 crore to contribute expertise in areas such as materials synthesis, characterisation, 3D printing of functional materials, sliding wear applications and energy systems and conversion technologies.
Prof Pragti Kumar, Vice Chancellor of SMVDU, expressed his satisfaction over the accomplishment, stating: “This achievement reflects our university’s strong commitment to research and innovation. We are proud to be part of this national-level initiative and anticipate impactful outcomes through our collaboration with IIT Ropar and other partner institutions.” Dr Ankush Raina, Principal Investigator from SMVDU, conveyed enthusiasm about the opportunity for interdisciplinary research. He noted that the collaboration under the ANRF framework provides a vital platform for pushing the frontiers of knowledge in advanced materials. The team from SMVDU also includes Co-Principal Investigators Dr Sanjeev Anand, Dr Yatheshth Anand, Dr V. V. Tyagi, Dr Mir Irfan Ul Haq, Dr Ram Prakash, Dr Pankaj Biswas and Dr Indu Bhushan, all of whom bring substantial expertise in their respective domains.
Prof A. K. Das, Dean of Research and Development, congratulated the team and emphasised that this grant would significantly strengthen the university’s research environment and enhance its contribution to national scientific progress. The selection process for the ANRF-PAIR grant was highly competitive, with only seven out of thirty hub proposals being selected across the country. This success positions SMVDU and its collaborating institutions among India’s most promising centres of scientific advancement, in alignment with the nation’s vision to strengthen its global research footprint.
